Chapter 1 of Via Berlin is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Via Berlin is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc. The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years. But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete. So of this tale! Its substance is not altogether new.
Chapter 1 of Via Berlin is here in full — 13 sentences across 3 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/2 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
fully understood or grasped
From this reading “But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.”
negotiation between nations
From this reading “The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.”
-ing form of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading “But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.”
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading “But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.”
not complete or total; not completed
From this reading “But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.”
plural of “lift” — the act of giving temporary assistance
From this reading “But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.”
plural of “screen” — a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading “The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.”
an American who lives in the South
From this reading “Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Its substance is not altogether new.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
fully understood or grasped
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
negotiation between nations
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
-ing form of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
not complete or total; not completed
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its substance is not altogether new.
plural of “lift” — the act of giving temporary assistance
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Its substance is not altogether new.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
witty remark
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
plural of “screen” — a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So of this tale!
an American who lives in the South
From this reading Author of “Sally Castleton, Southerner”, etc.
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading Its substance is not altogether new.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading So of this tale!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading So of this tale!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the veil is not impenetrable; from time to time a corner lifts, disclosing a fact long-suspected but never quite comprehended, a fact that fits into a history thitherto incomplete.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
a late time of life
From this reading The veil of diplomacy screens many secrets--most of them for many years.
Chapter 1 of Via Berlin by Crittenden Marriott holds 13 sentences, grouped into 3 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 13 sentences of Via Berlin, unabridged, divided into 3 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Via Berlin by Crittenden Marriott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 13 sentences, grouped into 3 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 3 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 3 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
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Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Via Berlin section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Via Berlin to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Via Berlin, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
